Bridge-collar pad.



S. E. HARSH.

BRIDGE COLLAR PAD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1912.

Patented June 3, 1913.

SAMUEL E. HARSH, OF WABASI-I, INDIANA.

BRIDGE-COLLAR PAD.

ocaesv.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Applicationfiled August 27, 1912. Serial No. 717,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. I-IARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wabash, in the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge Collar Pads; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters a and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a bridge collar pad to be used in connection with the collar on horses, mules or the like in order to relieve the neck of the horses, mules or the like from the weight of the collar so as to prevent chafing by the collar and'to pre vent irritation by the collar.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bridge collar pad which is so constructed and arranged that the weight of the collar will be properly and evenly balanced and which is so constructed and arranged that the same is equally adaptable to horses, mules or the like having different angles or arches of necks so that the bridge collar pad will support the collar evenly and without annoyance to the beast.

VYith these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction of the means for attaching the bridge collar pad to the collar, which means comprise a novel construction in the connecting bars of the bridge collar pad.

The invention also consists in certain other novel details of construction and in combination of parts, all of which will be first fully described and afterwards specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation of the bridge collar pad constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating the same applied to a horse, mule or the like, having an up right or arched neck. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the bridge collar pad at tached to a horse, mule or the like, having a drooping neck. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of one end of one of the supporting webs or pads illustrating the position of the reinforcing metallic strip. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the device. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation illustrating the con struction of the central portion of the connecting bars of the collar pad, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through line 55 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures in which;

1 indicates the collar which may be of any design or construction having the hame 2 which is provided with the usual slot or eye 3.

1 indicates the bridge collar pad which preferably comprises the two webbed straps or pads 5 having at their ends 6 a reinforcing metallic strip 7 shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, said reinforcing metallic strip 7 being sewed in the webbed straps or pads 5 and secured therein by means of the central rivet 8 which also passes through the ends 9 of the connecting bars 10.

Referring now to the connecting bars 10 it will be seen that the same are slightly curved in the manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and that there is a depending bar 11 preferably cast integral with the connecting bar 10, the said bar 11 being divided into practically two bars 12 and 13 by means of the central vertical partition 14, this construction providing two open spaces 15 and 1G in the manner as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Formed on the lower bar 11 and extending upwardly into each of the spaces 15 and 16 is the curved T shaped element 17 which is provided with an elongated head 18, the shank 19 being curved inwardly in the manner as shown in Fig. 1.

20 indicates a chain having an elongated link 21 at its upper end which elongated link 21 is passed over the T head 18 of the element 17 by twisting the chain in such manner that the T head 18 conforms to the elongated link 21. Then the chain is thus passed over the T head 18 the same drops down into position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 thus preventing an accidental displacement of the chain and effectually locking the same in position on the collar pad. It will he noted that the connecting bars 10 are each provided with two of these T headed elements 17 which are disposed on either side of the central partition 14. The device is arranged and constructed in this manner so as to enable the connecting bar 10 to suspend the collar 1 in such manner as to equalize the Weight of the collar upon the webbed straps or pads 5 in the manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the bridge collar pad can be applied to beasts having necks of different shapes or contours as will be clearly apparent from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2. Referring to the said figures it will be seen that the lower bar 11 is also constructed to accommodate a strap 22 whenever a strap is preferable to the chain, the said strap 22 being adapted to be attached to the lower bar 11 on either side of the central partition 14 and between said central partition and the T headed elements 17 in the manner as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By this construction either a chain or strap can be employed in connection with the bridge collar pad, which chain or strap is connected to the-hams in the manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

From an inspection of the accompanying drawings in connection with the foregoing specification it will be seen that by reason of the construction of the connecting bars 10 and the chains 20 that the collar pad can be shifted forwardly or backwardly in relation to the collar so as to accommodate and adjust the bridge collar pad to beasts of varying sizes and shapes of necks as clearly appears from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2. It will further be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the collar can be raised or lowered in order to support the same in the desired position and to relieve the neck of the beast of the weight of the collar by connecting any one of the links of the chain to the curved T-shaped element 17. By means of this arrangement of parts and the construction which provides for the proper balancing of the collar the said collar can be supported in such manner that the neck of the beast will be entirely free from the weight of the collar so that any sore or irritated neck will not be further chafed or rubbed by the collar. It will also be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the reinforcing metallic strips 7 are secured to the necks of the webs or pads by sewing the same in position and not by riveting. This construction cheapens the cost of assembling the device and at the same time presents a smooth surface to the beasts neck, the central pivoted rivet 8 being sufiicient in connection with the stitching in the ends of the webs or pads to effectually hold the reinforcing strips in proper position, the said reinforcing strips being arranged to hold the ends of the webbed straps or pads 5 in contact with the neck of the animal without annoyance and chafing.

Having thus fully described the several parts of this invention and its operation I consider myself -clearly entitled to all such changes and modifications as fall within the limit and scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is I A bridge collar pad comprising a pair of webbed straps having arranged in each of the ends thereof a reinforcing metallic strip, a curved connecting bar riveted to the adjacent ends of said webbed straps, a lower bar formed on said connecting bar and having a central partition connecting the said connecting bar with the said lower bar to provide two open spaces, an upright element formed on either side of the said central partition and extending upwardly into each of said open spaces, each upright element being curved inwardly and provided at its upper end with an elongated head adapted to receive a chain, each of said upright elements on said lower bar being at a sufiicient distance from said central partition to accommodate a strap on said lower bar between said central partition and either of said upright elements, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa ture, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL HARSH. lVitnesses M. ALVERWELL, J osnrn O. ZIRKLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

